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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/K014773/1
Title RENEWABLE CHEMICALS FROM SUSTAINABLE FEEDSTOCKS VIA HIGH-THOROUGHPUT METHODS
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of other biomass-derived fuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 20%;
Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 80%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences) 20%;
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 80%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr J Lopez-Sanchez
No email address given
Chemistry
University of Liverpool
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 27 June 2013
End Date 26 June 2017
Duration 48 months
Total Grant Value £1,859,979
Industrial Sectors Chemicals
Region North West
Programme Manufacturing : Manufacturing
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr J Lopez-Sanchez , Chemistry, University of Liverpool (99.996%)
  Other Investigator Professor J Clark , Chemistry, University of York (0.001%)
Dr J Kuylenstierna , Biology, University of York (0.001%)
Professor A Cooper , Chemistry, University of Liverpool (0.001%)
Dr AE Trewin , Chemistry, University of Liverpool (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Croda International Plc (0.000%)
Project Contact , Unilever UK Central Resources Limited (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract There has been a global shift towards the use of biomass as a source of fuels and chemicals necessitated by decreasing fossil reserves, increasing oil prices, security of supply and environmental issues. It has also become clear that the manufacturing industry is embracing this change and has clearly stated its aims to develop sustainable and efficient routes to manufacturing products and hence reducing their dependence on fossil feedstocks and environmental impact. To academics, this represents a huge opportunity to generate new scientific advances in the knowledge that their application will have strong industrial support. In addition to be motivated by scientific curiosity, we scientists need to acknowledge our social responsibility to partner with the manufacturing industry to contribute to a better society and more sustainable future.Advances in the development of routes to renewable chemicals have been observed in recent years, however there are still major issues remaining regarding the efficiency and viability of these routes to deliver renewable chemicals economically. Very importantly, many recent advances in biorefinary technologies have been based on feedstocks that compete with food or feed such as starch or vegetable oils. Large-scale implementation of these technologies can have disastrous consequences for food security worldwide. Therefore, it is paramount that new biorefinary technologies are based upon sources of biomass that do not compete with food production. The overarching aim of this proposal is to develop the next generation of structured polymeric materials that will enable to efficiently produce platform chemicals and bio-surfactants from waste biomass, integrating state of the art technologies for biomass activation and separation in one-pot processes. This project is built upon the expertise in green chemistry, biomass activation, catalysis and materials science from the partners in York and Liverpool and their strong engagement with industry. State of the art facilities in high-throughput materials discovery and characterisation will be utilized, and advanced techniques in biomass activation, such as supercritical CO2 (scCO2) extraction, and microwave pyrolysis and hydrolysis reactors up to scales of 100L will be used
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 24/09/13